Coin-controlled apparatus.



L. w. LUELLEN.

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

APIPLIUATION TILED AUG. 24, 1908 Patented Jan. 11, 1910. 7

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APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24 1908.

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70K .mm @L a x 2} m W a LAWFENCE W. LUELLEN, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COIN-CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

..-Specification otLettersTatent Patented J an. 11, 1910.

Application filed August 24, 1908. Serial K014503137.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .I, LAWRENCE LEN, a citizen of the United States, residi at Newton, in the county of Middlesex an iv State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Coin-Controlled Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus forvending merchandise, and more especially to coin-controlled machines for dispensing beverages or other fluids and containers therefor.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for this purpose, in which a cup or container is withdrawn from a supply, which cups-are so stored as to be guardedagainst theaccumulation of dirt, filled with the fluid and delivered to the purchaser in an aseptic condition, as aresult ofa single operation.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one embodiment of my invention. Here Figure 1 shows afront elevation of the improved vending-machine, parts being broken away; Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views showing "successive positions of the delivery-drum; Fig. 4 is a partial section on the line A-A of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a ,front elevation of the casing, with the cooperating elements of the delivery-drum and its actuating disk, together with a coin, indicated in dotted lines in their initialposition; Fig. 6 is a view of the same characterbut with the elements in their final or deresented in their normal position; Figs. 9

livery position;'Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the opposing faces of the delivery-drunrand its actuating disk, respectively, these'belng repand 10 are similar views, with the elements .at their opposite extreme of movement; Fig.

11 is a perspective view of the casing and drum, with the front plate and the actuating disk turned at an angle therefrom; Fig. 12 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the casing; Fig. 13 is a transverse section through the center of the deliverydrum; l iis a partial section through.

the drum, showing the manner in which it engages the cups, and Fig. 15 is a side elevation of one of sa1d cups.

Similar characters. designate like arts throughout the several figures of the rawings.

' dise-recelver 20, which, in. thefpresent'im W. IiUEL-.

' chandise-containers. I

secured in the socket by a lock indicated at- .lower 28,;which is cup-shap I have shown my improved vending a pa? ratus supported in proximityto amere anstance, consists of a tank or reservoir for liquid, and has an outletrpassage furnished r by a pipe 21 communicating wlth an opening in the rear wall of a casing 22. This casing, which carries the other elements of the apparatus, iscylindrical, being situated withits axis extending horizontally and sup ported in any convenient manner. It is provided at its top with an opening having about it a socket in -whichrests the lower extremity of a vertical receiver 24, preferably of tubular form, for a supply of mer- The receiver may be 25. When the a paratus is to be used for the dispensing 0 liquid the containers will consist of cups 26, of the ordinary frustoconical type and of some .light material suchv as parafiin or other water -.proof paper.

- Each cup has about its large open end a projection furnished by an annular flange 27. The supply of cups is placed in the receiver in a closely nested series, the flangesbeing separated from one another by. comparatively small spaces, and with their open sides down, this preventing dirt from entering them while they. are thus stored. The cups are supportedat the bottom of the receiver in a manner which "will later be made clear. To insure downward movement of the cups, as they are delivered one by one,

the's eries is preferably we' hted bya foland which fits upon the upper cup of'the series. The follower has at its outer-or smaller extremity a flange 29. fitti the bore of the receiver, whereby the stac is prevented from being deflected laterally.

Below the casing, in alinement with the receiver,is a cupfan'd coin-box-suppo'rt fur-.

31, havin at a suitable distance beneath the casing a s elf 32, about which is an opening through .the casing of suliicient size to perbe removed therefrom. An I movable, having a lock'37 which secures it in place. Extendin from a slot in the to nished by a depend-ing cylindrical extension ,receives 'spattered liquid and the waste from of the coin-box an along the wall of t e ;portion 31 is a coin-chute-38,-which at its upper end communicates with, the casing.

Rotatable in the-casing 22 is a single device common to both the cups and liquid by which these are delivered or rendered accessible to the purchaser. This delivery .device comprises a generally cylindrical drum 39, from the inner end wall 40 of which a spindle 41projects through and has a bearing in an axial opening in the rear-wall of the disk is turned, as a valve controlling the -,exterior of the intermediate or body flow from the reservoir. Between the rear wall of the drum and its front wall 44. the

ortion is curved gradually inward so that the a surface at 45 is eccentric to the axis (Figs.

13 and 14 of the drawing). In the body of the drum at the end of the surface is a recess or pocket 46 of considerable size havinga cylindrical side wall, and at the bottom a bowl-like depression 47 communicating at one side with the inlet opening 43. The depression47 has about it, projectin into the pocket, a threaded flan e 48, and upon this flange is screwed a hol ow holder 49, similarin its general shape to one of the cups and in its normal position in alinement .with the cup-receiver. The depression and holder together serveas a liquid-receptacle having a definite capacity. The liquid entering the receptacle through the opening43,

if unrestrained, would pass through a dis- 7 charge-opening or passage 50 situated at the center of the outer wall of the holder, but

this is preventedbya valve member 51 of buoyant material, preferably of rubber, in

' the form of a hollow sphere which floats upon the surface of the liquid within the receptacle and as said liquid rises seats itself against the opening. The integrity of the closure increases with the pressure and remains effective after the holder has been turned through a considerable angle, say of ninety degrees or more from the vertical. Y The length of the drum and the thickness of its walls or heads where they project ra-.

' dially at opposite sides of the surface 45 are such that-the inner edges of said heads exten below -the cup-receiver 24 at each side. Therefore the lower or terminal cup of the series is supported by the contact of its edge and flange 27 with the" heads. At 52 (Fig. 4), adjacent to the beginning of the eccentric surface, the projecting edges of the heads narrow so that the cup flanges may pass between them in a certain position of the drum; and when this occurs said flanges may enter-opposite grooves 5353 in the heads (Figs; 13 and 14), these grooveg 5 following the surface 45 and their outer walls extending over the recess 46. Said walls therefore diverge from the edges of the heads, which are concentric to the axis,

engagement with the flanges 27 serve to withdraw the cups one by one from the series, as will later be made plain.

Cotiperating with the forward end of the drum, though capable of independent movement, is an actuating-disk or member 54, ro tatable in the casing and having a central ipindle 55 provided with an enlargement 56 caring in a plate 57 which closes the front of the casing, except for an opening through which the spindle extendsf The spindle 55 at its inner end fu'rhishes a bearing for the adjacent head 44 of the drum, there being an opening 59 in said head for its reception (Fig. 11). Secured on the spindle outside the plate is a handle or lever 60, the manipulation of which effects the operation of the delivery device. In a chamber between the disk 54, the plate 57 and the spindle is a chamber in which is situated a spring 61, here shown as of the spiral'type, attached at one end to the plate and at its opposite end to the spindle. The spring is adapted to exert both expansive and torsional stresses, the effect 'of the first being to force the rear wall of the'drum into close contact with the opposite wall of the casing, these being.

jecting from the casing 22 into a slot 63 extending in one direction from the recess 46 (Figs. .1 and 12). The position of the closed end of the slot is such that the contact of the pin with it prevents the rotation of the drum beyond the proper position of rest. The travel of the actuating disk is limited in both directions by stops '64 and 65 carried by the outer end of the casing for cotiperation with the handle, and determining, respectively, the normal position under the tension of the spring 61 and the ultimate position for dellveryunder the manipulation of the operator.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive, and Fi 11, uponthe outer or front face of the head 44 of the drum is a projection 66, the function of which is to. furnish certain operating faces, and except for these and a passage, as will later be particularly defined, its shape and extent is not important and it may be in one or more sections. The projectionhas a surface 67 at one edge, this being inclined to a radius of the head. The surface 67 normally continues one side of a slot in the receiving tube and furnish cam members, which by their through the casing, the size of the tube being such that it will just admit the coin by which it is desired the machine, shall be op erated. The surface serves as a directing wall or abutment to a coin-engaging Surface 69, inclined or curved beneath the slot at an angle to the surface 67. Separated in a clock-wise direction from thecoin-abutment and engaging surfaces of the projection is a surface 70 at the opposite edge -of the projection66, this lying along a radius-of the head.

Its purpose will later appear. Between these" opposite faces the projection at its outer edge 71 is arc-shaped, it being situated a short distance from the periphery of the head 44. From the inner extremity of the surface 69 the projection is cutback at 72 toward the axis of the drum, and from there to the inner end of the surface 70 the projection follows' an are 73 of considerably less diameter than at 71 and upon the opposite side of the axis. z

The opposing face of the disk 54 has at its periphery an annular flange or projection 74, lying in close proximity to the head 44 T'tlfe flange'74 is a projection 78 provided of the drum and movable in the segmental space between the edge 71 of the projection 66 and theoutside ofthe head 44. Extend-. ing partly through the lateral dimension of the flange and entirely through it radially is an opening 75. When the handle 60 is against the stop 64 the surface 76 at one end of this opening is situated just at-the left hand extremity'of the coin-ingress slot, and

the surface 67 .upon the drum continues the opposite side to the surface '69. The relation of the disk-surface 76 to the surface 69 of the drum is such that when a coin of the,

proper size to operate the machine falls between them they both engage and retain it, looking the disk and drum, together for the forward or-deliverv movement. WVhe'n the handle 60 through whichthe disk is operated reaches the stop 65, the opening 75 and the coin held between the surfaces 69 and 76 are alined with the coin-egress opening 77 at the upper end of the chute 38. Extending inwardly along the face of the disk from with a substantially radial edge, the surface 79 of which closely parallels the drum sur face 70. As the drum is moved forward under the influence of the disk operated by its handle and an interposed coin, as just described, these surfaces and 79 travel side' by side but not necessarily in contact. Upon the return of the disk by its spring the surface 79 strikes 70 and restores the drum to its original position.

At what is normally the lower portion of the disk 54- is a recess 80, and outside of this the head adjacent tothe flange 7a is cut away to furnish a slot 81 ich is normally above a slug-egressopening 82. through the cent a cup is. to be made.

casing over the shelf 32. The portion 'of the of the coin-egress opening'has an. inclined surface 83 (Fig. 12), adapted to deflect an object moving along the flange and striking it through the slot 81 and opening 82. When any object of less size than the proper coin is introduced into the ingress-opening, suchi object being termed a slug for the purposesof this ini'ention, irrespective of its character or value, it falls between the surfaces 69 and 76' and into a-n enlarged space or passage below the surface 72 and between the opposite faces of the drum'and disk, the surface 73 and the flange 74,. through which space it passes freely until it contacts with the incline 83. This directs it from the plane of the coin-egress opening into the recess 80, entrance to which is facilitated by a beveled edge 84:, and then through the slugopening, from which it falls upon the shelf. It is thus returned to the user, giving warning that it is not suitable to effect the operation of themachine.

Let us suppose that my improved dispensing apparatus is to be employed for vending springwater for which a charge of one The size of the opening through the tube 68 is therefore such that a cent will just enter it. When the machine is at rest (Figs. 1, 5, 7, 8 and 13) the inlet opening 43 admits water from. the reservoir to the delivery-receptacle, but this is kept from flowing through the opening 50 by. the ball 51. Assuming that the machine has been previously operated, a cup 26 will be already seated upon the holder 49, and. the lowerone of the nested series in the re-- .ceiver will have its flange 27 resting upon the'concentric edges of the drum heads (Fig. t). Aperson desiring to secure a cup of water inserts a cent 23 injthe receiving tube and turns the handle 60 in a clock-wisedirection.- The engagement of the cent with the-surfaces 69 and 76, causes the parts to travel as a unit, the actuating-disk driving the drum through the interposed coin. The first effect of'the rotation of the drum, as the opening 43 passes out of alinement with the delivery-pipe, isto cut off the feed of water, leaving in the receptacle'the quantity which is to be dispensed. The ball tends to cling to the opening 50 for some time after the holder has left its vertical position, but after the cup has been revolved through about ninety degrees the ball. will begin to free itself (Fig. ,2), and the water 'flows slowly. into said cup. 'Asthe holder approaches its lowest point (Fig. 3), at which the handle is against. the stop 65, the cup is inverted with respect to it s'original position upon the holder and brought over an opening from the bottom of the casing above the therefore ejected from the casing and falls in an upright position upon the shelf. The

delivery of the water is completed while the cup is falling and immediately after it 5 reaches the shelf. The deliveryof the cup and contents having been completed, the handle is released and the torsional stress of the spring 61 becomes effective and rotates the disk left-handedly. This frees the coin from its engagement with the surfaces 69 and 76, and now being opposite the slot 77 it falls through the chute 38 into the box 36. The disk surface 79 is now pressing against the'drum surface 70 and this returns the drum to its initial "position. At all times while either the drum or disk are away from their normal positions, the coin-ingress slot is closed by the flange 74; Therefore, nothing can be introduced at such times to interfere with the operation of the machine. As the reverse movement is taking place the flange of the lowermost cup of the stack contained in the receiver, and which is next to be transferred to the shelf, is located between the narrow portions of the drum heads and is caught by the eccentric grooves 53, while the next cup of the' series rides upon the wider portions of the heads (Fig. 14:). The divergence of the grooves and edges of the heads draws the terminal cup downward and separates it from its companions, and when the'recess 46 reaches the cup the grooves have cleared it and it drops into place upon the holder. Any tendency to resist disengagement is overcome by a slight blow given to the cup-flange by the advancing rear portion of the recess-wall. The machine is now ready for another operat-ion. If the handle of the machine is 40 moved without a cent having been supplied to the slot 62, the actuating disk merely has an idle movement, the delivery-drum remaining stationary.

I claim:

1. A vending apparatus comprising a casing provided with coin-ingress and egress openings, a delivery device rotatable within the casing, and an actuating member rotatable in the casing independently of the delivery device and adapted to be connected thereto by a suitable coin inserted in the ingress opening, one of said rotatable elements gaging su ace, while the other of the rotatable ele ents has a flange surrounding the projection and being provided with a coinreceivlng opening.

' 2. A vending apparatus comprising a casing provided with coin-ingress and egress openings, a delivery device rotatable within the casing, and. an actuating member rotatable in thecasing independently of the delivery device and adapted to be connected thereto by a suitable coin inserted in the ingress opening, one of said rotatable elements having azprqection furnishing a coin-en-.

having a projection furnishing a coin-engaging surface, while the'other of the rotatable elements has a flange surrounding the projection and being provided with a coin-receiving opening, the flange at one extremity of its opening cooperating with the projection. in the enga ement of a coin.

3. A ven ing apparatus comprisin a casing rovided with coin-ingress and egress open1ngs, a delivery device rotatable within the casing, and an actuating member rotatable in the casing independently of the delivery device and adapted to be connected thereto by a suitable coin'inserted in the ingress opening, one of said rotatable elements aving a projection furnishing a coin engaging surface, while the other of the rotatable elements has a flangesurrounding the projection and being provided with a coinreceiving opening and both elements having 35 cooperating surfaces extending in the plane of the coin-ingress opening.

4. A vending apparatus comprising a casing' provided with a coin-ingress opening, a delivery device and an actuating member so therefor independently rotatable in the easing, said delivery device and actuating member having coin-engaging surfaces normally adjacent to the ingress opening and surfaces cooperating with one another upon reverse 95 movement of the actuating member, and means for closing the ingress opening during the movement of the actuating member.

5. A vending apparatus comprising a casin provided with a coin-ingress opening, a de ivery device and an actuating member therefor independently rotatable in the easing, said delivery device and actuating member having coin-engaging surfaces normally adjacent tothe ingress opening and surfaces cooperating with one another upon reverse movement of the actuating member, and

means-for closing the ingress opening during the movement of the actuating member, one extremity of the closing means furnishing the coin-engaging surface of the actuating member.

6. The combination with a casing provided with coin-ingress and egress openln slying substantially in the same plane, of a elivery-' drum and an actuating disk therefor having adjacent faces lying at opposite sides of the plane of the casing-openings, both the delivery-drum and actuating-dlsk beingv provided with separated coin-engaging surfaces projecting into the plane of the openings and also being provlded with surfaces 00- operating with one another, whereby the actuating disk returns the delivery 'drum to its initial position. 125

7 The combination with a casing provided with coin-ingress and egress openings lying substantially in the same plane, of a delivery-drum and'an actuating disk therefor having adjacent faces lying at opposite 130 vided with coin-ingress and egress openings,

' opening sides of the plane of the casing-openings,

openings and also being provided with surfrom that first mentioned, a projection near from the disk which cooperates with the havingadjacent faces and an intermediate said projection having a surface normally situated adjacent to one side of the coiningress slot, and an annular flange near the periphery f the actuating disk surrounding the space both the delivery-drum and actuating disk being provided with separated coin-engaging surfaces projecting into the plane of .the

between the faces and having an faces cooperatin with one another, and an annular -project1on from the edge ,of the disk extending into the plane of the casingopenings and itself having an opening normally registering with the ingress opening.

8. The combination with a casing progress opening.

*1O.'The combination with a,casing prolivery-drum and an actuating disk having adjacent faces situated at opposite sides of the openin'gsand furnishing an intermediate space, the face of the'disk having a recess normally located opposite the slug-egress opening, a projection from the druminto of a delivery-drum and anactuatlng-idisk having adjacent faces and an intermediate space communicating .with the coin-openings, a projection from the drum into the; space, said projection having a surface normally situated adjacent toone side of the n normally situated adjacent to one side of coin-ingress slot and another surface spaced the, coin'ingress opening, 'and an annular.

the periphery of the actuating-diskinto the between the faces space at the opposite side of the coin-ingress from the corresponding surface drum, and a second projection disk surrounding the space and "having inent'with the coin-egress opening and being provided with a surface adjacent 'to and inclined toward the slug-egress opening.

Signed at Boston, in the county iof Suflolk and State of Massachusetts, this eighteenth day of August, 1908. 1 I LAWRENCE =W. LUELLEN.

Witnesses:

. AU's'rIN M. \PINKHAM, a SYLvANUs H, C0BB.

uponthe other surface of the drum projection.

9. The combination with' a casing provided with coin-ingress and egress openings, of a delivery-drum and an actuating-disk;

space communicating with the coin-openings, a projection from, the drum into the space,

vided with coin-ingress and egress openings 4 and a separate slug-egress open ng, of a dethe space, said projection having a surface .flange near the-periphery of the actuatingopening normally in alinement with the in- 4 

